In a "Casablanca"-like ending, complete with a night-time airport scene and a passionate kiss, "NCIS" bid farewell on Tuesday to agent Ziva David and the actress who played her for eight years, Cote de Pablo.

As it turned out, Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) spent months in Israel searching for Ziva -- even briefly that she may be dead -- only to find her and then lose her again. Ziva craved a fresh start and a chance to lead her turbulent past behind.

And though Tony urged her to come back with him to Washington, D.C., Ziva insisted that she had to stay and go at it solo.

"He taught me to follow my heart," she said, referring to Gibbs. "... I have to do this alone. I have to let go of everything or I will be back to where I started."

With that, the two characters engaged in the passionate smooch that fans have long clamored for.

"Tony, you are so loved," Ziva said, before he turned to board the plane.

De Pablo, 33, announced during the summer that she would leave prime time's most popular drama at the beginning of this season. In the months and weeks leading up to Tuesday's episode, fans had expressed their outrage and disappointment over her departure.

Producers insist de Pablo left on her own terms, which she has confirmed. In an interview with TV Guide, she said, "As far as my decision to leave, that's a personal thing, and I'd rather leave it at that. The idea of leaving was not something I toyed around with for a long time. It was an overwhelmingly hard thing -- at times terrifying."

Looking ahead, de Pablo's possible successor will arrive in November when "NCIS" introduces Bishop (Emily Wickersham), an NSA analyst who could become a regular character.

So what did you think of de Pablo's exit? Did the show do right by her?